BRENDAN RODGERS has warned Steven Gerrard to tread carefully as the Liverpool skipper seeks to avoid the booking that would rule him out for two games of the title run-in.

Gerrard collected his ninth caution of the campaign in the win over Cardiff on Saturday and must now stay out of trouble until an amnesty for yellow cards on April 13 or he will trigger a suspension.

Liverpool manager Rodgers is refusing to contemplate picking and choosing Gerrard's games between now and the threshold to limit the risk of suspension and the midfielder will face Sunderland tomorrow.

"We just have to cope with it," said Rodgers. "I have spoken to him about it and we just have to be that extra bit more careful.

"I think he has been very unlucky. His last two bookings have been unfortunate. The one against Manchester United should never have been a booking. He won a header.

"At the weekend he committed a foul which also should not have been a booking. We didn't help him because we gave away the ball so cheaply.

"He has been unfortunate picking up some unnecessary bookings that were not just down to him. He will just have to tread carefully now but it's a role he can play and he will find a way, I'm sure."

Gerrard has been deployed as a controlling midfielder of late and has been booked seven times in his last 10 appearances.

Liverpool have three games before hosting title rivals Manchester City on April 13, while Chelsea arrive at Anfield on April 27.

Rodgers hopes Man Utd can put a dent in City's title hopes [GETTY]

He just has to be a bit more cautious but he is clever enough to get through that

Brendan Rodgers

"We won't rest him because if he gets booked he will miss the two after that," said Rodgers of the visit of relegation-haunted Sunderland.

"He just has to be a bit more cautious but he is clever enough to get through that."

Rodgers also admitted that tonight he will be a Manchester United supporter as he looks for a favour from David Moyes' side in their derby showdown with Manchester City.

City can overtake Liverpool and move into second place in the table with a victory at Old Trafford and Manuel Pellegrini's side would also have a game in hand.

Liverpool will train at Anfield tonight before Rodgers tunes in the collision.

"We're training at Anfield in the evening so I will settle down and watch it after that. I'm really looking forward to it," he said.

"Whatever the result is that's best for you, then you always root for that don't you? But I am more concerned with how we do on Wednesday to be honest."

Liverpool youngster Jordan Rossiter marked his 17th birthday yesterday by signing a new three-year contract. The highly-rated teenager was an unused substitute in games against Chelsea and Hull over Christmas.